Large Format Ground Glass Cameras

if you want a contemplative approach and best image quality (for example studio or landscape photography), or if you need the movements (for example for product or architectural photography)

Large format is totally different from anything else. Think of single sheets of film, where you thought of light-tight cassettes and rolls before. Think of an upside down and mirrored dim ground glass, where you thought of a bright prism finder before. Think of mounting a single lens on every camera you want, where you thought of many incompatible lens mount before.

However I have to say that there also were several "press" large format cameras which were also intended for hand-held use, like those by Graflex or Linhof.

You can divide large format cameras into monorail (often referred to as view cameras) and flatbed (often referred to as field cameras). As a general rule, monorails offer more movements, but are not as easy to transport on location, whereas flatbeds are somewhat limited in movements, but can be folded into a very portable "case". Here more rudimentary things matter when it comes to buy a camera: How heavy is it? How much movement does it offer? How precise and rugged is its construction? That's due to the fact that all the mechanics are built into the lens (diaphragm and shutter). About any lens will deliver enough quality for large format, as the enlargement ratios are very low.

Today's important large format camera manufacturers include Calumet, Cambo, Canham, Ebony, Gowland, Horseman, Linhof, Lotus, Shen Hao, Sinar, Tachihara, Toyo, Wisner, and Zone VI. Bender Photographic sell cheap DIY kits for 4x5" and 8x10" monorail cherry cameras. Today's important lens manufacturers are Fuji, Nikon, Rodenstock, and Schneider-Kreuznach. Famous older cameras were made by Burke and James, Deardorff, Graflex, Kodak, and Korona.

advantages: very contemplative, direct, and affordable approach to photography, supreme image quality
disadvantage: may appear slow, big, and cumbersome to many users